Skydiving in a dying state?

[SimpleJack 0]

It just seems like the sport as a whole is in a dying state.
SoCal used to have a great skydiving scene with lots of dropzones.

Between the poorly maintained aircraft, fugly looking dropzones and weekly fatalities, I just don’t see this sport as fully matured yet.

It’s too bad. You see entire resorts built around golf & skiing but there just isn’t any money being made from skydiving.

[freefalle 0]

I would venture to guess the number of people who play golf is far greater than the number of skydivers. I also venture to guess the median income of :most: skydivers is low middle to middle class. Therefore the amount of money is being spent into the sport be individuals is low. I would be curious to know that the profit margin is for an average dropzone.

[happythoughts 0]

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It just seems like the sport as a whole is in a dying state.
SoCal used to have a great skydiving scene with lots of dropzones.

Between the poorly maintained aircraft, fugly looking dropzones and weekly fatalities, I just don’t see this sport as fully matured yet.

It’s too bad. You see entire resorts built around golf & skiing but there just isn’t any money being made from skydiving.

The thing that is most in decline is Skydiving website trolls.
You just don't get the real quality trolls anymore.

The new ones don't even try to educate themselves.
They don't have any finesse. A broadsword approach.

What is the world coming to?

[peek 21]

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Between the poorly maintained aircraft, fugly looking dropzones and weekly fatalities, I just don’t see this sport as fully matured yet. It’s too bad. You see entire resorts built around golf & skiing but there just isn’t any money being made from skydiving.

Serious questions:

What are some of the characteristics of a fully matured sport?
What are some of the sports you consider fully matured?

[CyniQ 0]

I don't know the answers to the above questions. But being a trendy youngster of [ahem] 31, and brand-spankin' new to the highly enjoyable pastime of falling through the air at 120mph I feel that I have an excellent, non-nostalgiacized (makin' up words again) frame of reference for this particular debate.

There are many aspects of this sport that appear dated and therefore may leave outsiders and newcomers with the impression that the sport is "dying". I have a few observations.

1. Pink and Teal NEON madras patterned clothing.

2. Aircraft constructed at least a decade before I was alive.

3. The insistance that any gathering of more than two or three skydivers is called a "boogie". Seriously... we don't still run around saying "gnarly", "groovy", "rad", or "bitchin'"... do we?

Well... maybe "rad".

That being said... I'll happily show up at my local DZ (as soon as this cloudcover breaks) in green parachute pants, velcro reeboks, and hypercolor tee begging to be added to the next load going up on that beautiful, ancient piece of machinery that can get me to 10.5... and it'll be totally rad.

Now... what is it the "old folks" say? Oh yes, "BLUE SKIES!!"

Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles.

[peek 21]

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There are many aspects of this sport that appear dated and therefore may leave outsiders and newcomers with the impression that the sport is "dying". I have a few observations.

Those are some interesting things to consider, and thank you.

I would be very interested in your impressions of General Aviation, for example, if you went to your local small airport and inquired about learning to fly.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

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... fugly looking dropzones ...

Since when haven't dropzones been a bit fugly looking?

[happythoughts 0]

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... fugly looking dropzones ...

Since when haven't dropzones been a bit fugly looking?

I know of one case where a person was so unhappy about it that they left.


Of course, that made an 80% improvement.

[tetra316 0]

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Between the poorly maintained aircraft, fugly looking dropzones and weekly fatalities, I just don’t see this sport as fully matured yet.

I almost think the sport matured back in the 80s and 90s from hearing all the stories. More people then, more dropzones, more parities, a much tighter knit community. Of course the skill level today is much higher but there are fewer people and too many 'sky gods'.

[gemini 0]

1. Pink and Teal NEON madras patterned clothing.

I hate that at the concerts I go to! Guess the concert business is dying too. And bowling nights! Have you looked at their clothes?

2. Aircraft constructed at least a decade before I was alive.

Let's see a new 182 costs $400,000 and a new twin otter will be in excess of $3,500,000. I can pick up a well maintained "older" cessna for $75,000 and an Otter for $1,600,000. Makes sense to me to go with the older airplanes since they carry exactly the same number of passengers and meet all skydiving needs.

3. The insistance that any gathering of more than two or three skydivers is called a "boogie".

It's just a word! We have Skyfest, had the Freefall Convention, Gatherings, Reunions, Flocks. Callling something cool, grooy, hot, rad doesn't have anything to do with the industry per se. Just the age of the jumper(s) who designed the ad, event, etc.

Blue skies,

Jim

[James.UWE 0]

Being from the UK, i can't comment on SoCal, however:

I agree, the word 'boogie' sounds stupid I mean come on, a 'whuffo' (Another stupid sounding word) would hear the word boogie and think we are all gay.

On a serious note, a few people I've spoken too who have done FJC's / AFF with my uni club have all said the biggest thing that puts them off the sport is the attitude they see. Too many people love themselves and think that they are something special just because they jump out of planes. They need to get over themselves. I know what they mean too, I haven't been to that many DZ's, but for each one I can recall a few people who fucking love themselves and have a big attitude problem. I know you get attitude and people who love themselves in all areas of life, it just seems that there are a lot more in this sport?

[angrypeppers 1]

Cyniq,

Dated, maybe so. I happen to enjoy the traditions and history of this sport. The history of skydiving anchors us jumpers in the new century. But to respond to your observations:

1. Who cares if someone wants to wear pink and teal madras? If they like it, shouldn't that be enough? I see far too much black skydiver wear at my DZ...colors are good!

2. Show me a new, affordably priced twin turbine that can be used for skydiving ops. The fact is that King Airs and Otters especially are build tough and serve well as jump a/c. That they are available at a price so that DZO's can stay in business is even better.

What's old is new again:

3. Boogie, BSBD, etc are all part of the history of the sport. Feel free to create your own jargon and traditions, but don't be surprised if some of us non-trendy oldsters make fun of you. And yes, some of us also still use "gnarly", "groovy", "rad", or "bitchin"... Seriously, do you really want to give up history such as beer rules, 100 jump pies/naked jumps, or A stamps on the forehead? The fact is that youngsters to the sport (myself included), can learn a lot from the folks who've been around a while. If you can get past the way they talk and dress, you may find something in what they say that adds to your enjoyment of the sport, or it may keep you alive.

As for me, I would really enjoy jumping rounds some day (even better if it was from a DC-3 or Beech 18!), just because a lot of the folks I respect here and DZ's I've visited jumped them back when the sport was still young. I'd like to connect the past from the present. Plus, I think it would be a lot of fun, which is the whole point of skydiving, no?

Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.

[skybill 22]

Hi Jack!!,
As long as there is sky and a way to get "up" there people will "Skydive!" What you see is "change" (and I don't the cliche'd word our president-elect has hijacked!) and lots of it!! Every day somebody gets "a better idea" ...Round canopys got "modified" then came the Paracomander, then the "ram-air" . We've come a long way from those grainy B&W photos of the "First Baton Pass!!" in LIFE magazine back when! (I don't know if it really was "The First" but it sure got people interested!!) Don't worry, Scare-us-valley, D-land and all other DZ's have one thing in common when ever you step out of an aircraft above them, you're still "Directly above the center of the earth!!" C-U at the DZ, wherever it will be!!
BTW some trivia about the LIFE baton pass photos, some people saw those, got interested and put an add in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate newspaper,"Anyone interested in starting a Skydiving Club meet at the National Guard Armory (they had a big hall) on Tuesday night!!" A bunch of people with NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE but had a desire to "Skydive" "Showed up!" and "Louisiana Skidivers came into existance.

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[billvon 2,990]

>SoCal used to have a great skydiving scene with lots of dropzones.

Still is. There are 3-4 within an hour of me.

>Between the poorly maintained aircraft, fugly looking dropzones and
>weekly fatalities, I just don’t see this sport as fully matured yet.

That's fine. If you mean "as mature as NASCAR racing or professional bike racing" then I would agree, and also mention that I am very glad it is not so mature.

>You see entire resorts built around golf & skiing but there just isn’t any
>money being made from skydiving.

1) If that's really what you want, you can find skydiving resorts. The San Carlos boogie and the Belize boogie are examples there. Skydive Arizona is very much a skydiving resort, with cute themes (ye olde gear shoppe, wooden indians on the porch) recreation for whuffos (bar w/pool tables, pool, wind tunnel) and decent on-site lodging (Skyrider.)

2) Most places aren't like that, which is fine with me. When I want to go to a resort I go to a resort; when I want to go skydiving I go to a DZ.

[CyniQ 0]

You guys are hilarious.

I intended that post to be at least 40% tongue in cheek. I'm not *really* judging anyone. I like pretty much everybody.

But I think we have to acknowledge the fact that a DZ is the only place in this country that a grown-ass man can walk around in a pink and purple patchwork onesy without anyone giving him so much as a second look. and if you don't think that's at least a little bit funny...

As far as the older aircraft... I definitely comprehend the practicality of purchasing used equipment. I was just offering a few points to support the OP's statement... which facilitates discussion. See?

I had a point... I just can't remember what it was.

Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles.

[jumpwally 0]

If you got time to post questions like that, you ain't skydiving enough......cuz if you were,,,you'd be having too much fun to have time to waste bandwidth

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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3. The insistance that any gathering of more than two or three skydivers is called a "boogie". Seriously... we don't still run around saying "gnarly", "groovy", "rad", or "bitchin'"... do we?

Sure we do. I'm all into groovy. In the 90s I tried to get into the swing of things and be more modern and say things like "radical ninja" but it just didn't have the same groovy vibe.

[piisfish 140]

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Ya DZ is the only place in this country that a grown-ass man can walk around in a pink and purple patchwork onesy without anyone giving him so much as a second look.

never went to Burning Man did you ?

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[JohnRich 4]

Which States are dying? Skydiving in Texas is going along just fine, so I guess Texas isn't a dying State.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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Ya DZ is the only place in this country that a grown-ass man can walk around in a pink and purple patchwork onesy without anyone giving him so much as a second look.

never went to Burning Man did you ?

Hey if they do it at burning man it must be mainstream.

[SimpleJack 0]

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Which States are dying? Skydiving in Texas is going along just fine, so I guess Texas isn't a dying State.

Perris & Elsinore are looking pretty shabby these days. Peeling paint, old facilities. These places look virtually deserted.

There was so much more life at these dropzones 5 years ago, things are totally different.

Cal City was a great facility but very few people jumped there, so they pulled the plug.

I don’t know how things are in Texas but here in SoCal, it really is in a dying state.

[Scrumpot 1]

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I had a point... I just can't remember what it was.

And interestingly enough Peek (one of the "oldest" ones in here to reply to you, sorry Gary ) - actually seemed to get (and appreciate) whatever that was, too!

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[kelpdiver 2]

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Perris & Elsinore are looking pretty shabby these days. Peeling paint, old facilities. These places look virtually deserted.

unemployment in CA is certainly higher right now, and I would expect particularly for those in their 20s.

There has been a link established with the feeling of gloom with the popularity of sitcoms on TV (see Friends in 2001), I wonder if there is a negative correlation with higher risk sports.

It's also November.

[billvon 2,990]

>Perris & Elsinore are looking pretty shabby these days. Peeling paint,
>old facilities. These places look virtually deserted.

Ah, I see the problem here! You're in Perris proper and not at the drop zone. Go about 3 miles directly south to find the DZ. You'll recognize it from the big wind tunnel out front.

[FlyingJ27 0]

From the perspective of someone who is just getting into the sport:

I was shocked at how serious of an operation Skydive Spaceland really is. They have three Twin Otters and a Cessna. They were very professional and I felt very confident doing my first tandem jump. The Twin Otter would land, load up full, and take off as fast as it could. I got the impression that skydiving has a strong following.

Skydiving is expensive, but a high quality set of golf clubs will run you $5,000, plus $75+ for a round at a decent club. But hey, some people get their kicks by hitting a little white ball, the rest of us jump out of planes.

Someone said that most skydivers are low to middle class. I read in Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook that 40% of skydivers have a college degree and 20% have a graduate degree.